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Support

There may be a number of reasons why an individual needs employment support. It could be to learn a job, to help with organization, to learn workplace social skills, or other reasons related to a disability. The length oftime an individual receives employment supports varies, depending on their needs.

Types of Employment Supports

Natural Supports

Natural supports are unpaid individuals who are people who are around the individual. These could be friends, teachers, family members, colleagues at work or other individuals.

Employment Specialist / Job Coach / Job Developer / Work Supports

These professionals are paid to help individual find or prepare for work, or support them with learning or maintaining a job. They also work with employers.

Hiring Employment Support

The decision to hire employment support is generally made by the job seeker or employee and the state agency that will be paying for their services. Generally this will be a school, VR agency, or DHHS.

Individuals have the right to choose the provider agency they wish to work with and may consider interviewing a number of them. Interviewing can be a great way to find out about their experience working with people with particular needs, experience finding jobs in particular fields of interest and to get a sense of who they are personally. The individual who is receiving employment support may be spending a lot of time with this employment specailist so it's important for them to feel comfortable.

Paying for Employment Supports

Natural supports generally don't require payment, which is why they're called natural. Employment specialists, coaches and developers are generally paid by a school, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency or the Department of Health and Human Services. There are also times where the individual who requires the support will pay for the service themselves. For SSI and SSDI recipients, this could be incorporated into an IRWE or PASS plan.

VR generally contracts with employment agencies, also known as Community Rehabilitation Providers (CRPs), to provide time limited support to an individual to achieve specific goals as outlined on their Individualized Plan for Employment. This could be for career exploration, to find a job, train in a job or keep a job.

If an individual requires ongoing support on a job to keep the job, then VR looks to other sources to provide the funding that will extend beyond the VR case. The funding source can depend on the individual's disability and their connection to other service providers.
  • Developmental Disability: Individuals receiving case management services through the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS), may be eligible for limited funding for employment support. Visit the OADS site for more information on availability, eligibility and how to apply.
  • Mental Health Disability: Individuals receiving case management services through the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHS) may be eligible for employment support funding. See the SAMHS Vocational Services site for more information on availability, eligibility and how to apply.
  • Brain Injury: VR has limited funds for individuals who have acquired brain injuries and require limited employment support to maintain employment. Speak with a BRS VR counselor for more information.
  • Other impairments- Individuals who do not have impairments that meet the requirements above but still require employment support may be eligible to receive employment supports. Speak with a BRS VR counselor for more information.

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